Aviation contents not really correct

Rating: 9/10 (14 February 2011)

Great epic movie. However, aviation related aspects not really perfect as it would be possible in 1962. During the operation, the most utilized airplane for paratroopers and glider towing duties was the ubiquitous Douglas C-47 (available perhaps in great number in the sixties and still flying nowadays). No C-47 are visible in the movie (!). The planes in the movie are only Avro Lancasters (only models) that were not utilized for the Sealord operations except for bombing ops. The towing was performed by HP Halifaxes and Short Stirlings, plus said C-47 and Curtiss C-46 from USAAF. The Luftwaffe Priller's planes were actually Focke Wulf 190 while in the film they are badly represented by Messerchmitt 108 (in their post war french version by Nord Aviation), a light communication and trainer airplane and not really a fighter . Its resemblance to the illustrious Me 109 fighter could be the reason of the choice. Look at the Priller's airplane control column: too long , the fighter cloche works between pilot's legs. During the beaching ops there are American fighters flying low over the ships. They are Douglas Skyraiders , a plane that did not participate to the II WW but become a standard attack plane during Korea and the, Vietnam too. Quite right the Airspeed Horsa glider mock-ups and models bit with wrong English Insignia over the wings. No American gliders are visible, like the largely utilized Waco Hadrians in their classic olive drab camouflage and invasion black and white identification stripes. So, great movie but full of aviation mistakes.